Maturango Museum

Wildflower Exhibit
2026-04-10 10:00 - 2026-04-12 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Every spring, the Maturango Museum hosts a Wildflower Exhibit featuring the wildflowers that grow in and around Ridgecrest, including the local canyons of the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. A colorful display of more than 200 different species of wildflowers is showcased in the Maturango Museum’s largest room. This is an excellent opportunity to see wildflowers up close and in one location! The Wildflower Exhibit runs from Friday, April 10, through Sunday, April 12, 2026.
The Maturango Museum is located at 100 E Las Flores Ave, Ridgecrest, CA. Phone – 760-375-
6900, website – Maturango.org.

Glenn Harris: Why Plants Grow Where They Do
2026-04-10 17:30 - 18:30
Glenn, a retired BLM employee, now volunteers with the Maturango Museum, giving environmental education talks to children and adults.Have you ever wondered why certain plants grow where they do? We have all looked at landscapes with their variety of plant colors and physical features. Glenn Harris will delve into this subject in his presentation on Friday evening.
Ecologists have classified the Earth into a series of similar areas called biomes. The biomes include aquatic, grassland, forest, desert, and tundra. This illustrated presentation will focus on the Desert Biome and, in particular, the desert region where we live. The presentation will include discussions of landscape, community, and individual plant-level factors affecting plant distribution.
Glenn is familiar with the desert area, having worked in the region for over 45 years, 39 of them for BLM. He serves as a volunteer with the BLM and a docent with the Maturango Museum. With the museum, he takes environmental education into the classroom and public groups, giving talks on geology, earthquakes, volcanoes, and insects. He has worked with the annual Wildflower Exhibit as both a collector and taxonomist, identifying the collected specimens for many years.

Allison Autry: Introduction to the Native Orchids of California and Nevada
2026-04-11 14:00 - 15:00
Allison Autry, PhD candidate, studies orchids that grow on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada and riparian enclaves on the Mojave Desert. Her presentation is titled, “An Introduction to the Native Orchids of California and Nevada, with a special focus on the Southeastern Sierra and the Mojave Desert.” Did you know that orchids grow in the eastern Sierra Nevada and the Mojave Desert?
The Maturango Museum is pleased to host PhD Candidate Allison Autry, who will give a presentation on Native Orchids of California and Nevada. Nearly 40 species of orchids are found across California in habitats including the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada and the riparian enclaves of the Mojave Desert. This talk will cover topics including orchid diversity in California, historical efforts to document orchid diversity in the state, and contemporary threats to native orchids. The stories of a handful of noteworthy native orchid species, including the Ash Meadows Ladies’ Tresses, will be highlighted during the presentation.
Allison Autry is a PhD Candidate conducting rare orchid conservation and genetics research at California Botanic Garden in Claremont, CA. She also serves as a Director of the Native Orchid Conference. Allison earned a B.S. degree in plant science and environmental science from the University of Delaware and has previously worked as a research assistant at Longwood Gardens. She is currently conducting fieldwork in Ash Meadows, Nevada, Railroad Valley, Nevada, and eastern California in support of her dissertation research on Spiranthes infernalis.

Dylan Layfield: Vascular Flora of Sand Canyon
2026-04-12 14:00 - 15:00
Dylan Layfield will give a presentation on the “Vascular Flora of Sand Canyon”. This canyon is located to the north of Grapevine Canyon and south of No Name Canyon. Sand Canyon has diverse plant species due to its long stretches of continuous water in both the Main Fork and South Fork of the canyon. In addition, elevations ranging from 2,800 ft to 7,989 ft allow for unique transition zones between the Mojave Desert, the Great Basin, and the Sierra Nevada. Sand Canyon is one of the larger and less-traveled canyons in the eastern Owens Peak Wilderness.
As an avid hiker and explorer, Dylan put this talent to use in the extensive Sand Canyon watershed, where he began his independent floristic project in 2020. The plants in this area of the Owens Peak Wilderness are not well documented, with most collections concentrated near the base of the canyon and on the northeastern aspects of Spanish Needle. Dylan’s presentation covers the history of Sand Canyon, previous collections, and some of his favorite plants growing there.
Dylan graduated from Cal Poly Humboldt with a BS in Environmental Science and Management (emphasis in ecological restoration). He became extremely interested in plants and soils during his time at Humboldt and seasonal jobs with the Forest Service. Currently, Dylan works as a Natural Resources Specialist on NAWS China Lake, where he has spent many hours studying, cataloguing, managing, and remediating ecosystems for native plants and animal species such as the Joshua tree and the federally listed Inyo California Towhee.

ESTATE SALE!
2026-04-17 08:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-19 08:00 - 14:00
1960 MATURANGO ST
8-2
TOOLS, TRINKETS, FURNITURE AND PLENTY OF BOOKS!

ESTATE SALE
2026-04-18 08:00 - 14:00

Children’s Hour: Butterflies
2026-04-24 10:30 - 11:30
Why wouldn’t the butterfly go to the dance? It was a moth ball.Why did the kid throw butter out the window? He wanted to see butter fly.
But seriously, the docents of Maturango Museum would like to invite families and young children to our “Butterflies; Loved by Flowers and Children” program. This free event will be full of your favorite stories about butterflies, as well as action songs, and a fun, child-friendly craft. We will be exploring exhibits and butterfly science at the Discovery Table.
We will have a butterfly backdrop set up so families can take colorful photos.
More information about Children’s Hour can be found on www.Maturango.org or by calling 760-375-6900.
“If you smile when you see a butterfly, you have happiness in your soul.”-Diane Cooper

Celebration of Life for Janet Westbrook
2026-04-26 14:00 - 16:00
Janet Westbrook, well-known Naturalist and Biology Professor Emeritus at Cerro Coso College, passed away peacefully in Ridgecrest on 24 August, 2025. She was an ardent environmentalist, loving deserts, mountains and trees. She participated in and supported many environmental causes and organizations. She gave regular lectures and slide shows at the Maturango Museum sharing her world adventures. She became involved with the Maturango Museum when it was still on the China Lake Navy base. She served on the Board and contributed untold hours of ideas, time, effort and financial contributions.
For over 50 years she was a member of the China Lake Mountain Rescue Group, amongst other duties teaching first aid and CPR, as well as being one of the callout coordinators.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Maturango Museum.

Member Only Field Trip to Manzanar
2026-05-01 07:30 - 17:00 | Manzanar
This is a MEMBER ONLY FIELD TRIP!
If you are interested in going on this field trip and you are not a current member of the Maturango
Museum, you will need to become a member prior to signing up for the field trip. Go to
maturango.org/become-a-member-2/ This is a Maturango Museum Member-Only Event so there is no
fee for this field trip, however, donations are appreciated.
Manzanar was one of 10 War Relocation Centers where the US Government incarcerated Japanese
American citizens and Japanese immigrants who were ineligible for citizenship during World War II. Most
of the internees were from the Los Angeles area, Terminal Island, and the San Fernando Valley. Others
came from the San Joaquin Valley and Bainbridge Island Washington; the latter transferred to Minidoka in
1943.
We will be visiting the Visitor’s Center, Block 14, and then take the Auto Tour, stopping along the way to
visit the various exhibits including Merritt Park and the Cemetery & Monument. What makes this trip
unique is that I have arranged for a 30-minute Q&A with one of the Rangers during our time at Manzanar.
Note: Parking can be limited on the Auto Tour so at the Manzanar site carpooling is encouraged.
Our journey will start at the Maturango Museum and arrange carpools (if people want to carpool) and
ultimately head north on 395 to the Owens Valley trying to stay together as much as possible without
annoying others on the road. We’ll stop at the Interagency Center just before Lone Pine to use the facilities
and look around a bit (about 30 minutes). The Interagency Center has a lot of information and if you feel
that you need more time to peruse, I encourage you to do that after we’ve completed our Manzanar visit.
The Interagency Center closes at 4:30pm, gates close at 4:15pm.
From the Interagency Center we’ll again head north on 395 to Manzanar. It is about 16 miles. We’ll park
at the Visitor’s Center. There are many different things to see while at Manzanar and I’m expecting us to
be at the site for 3-4 hours, including lunch and the Q&A Session.
Please note from the NPS Website: Visitor amenities are limited at Manzanar. Visitors must bring their
own drinking water, carry out their own trash, and are recommended to bring personal
handwashing/sanitizing supplies.
Saturday May 1, 7:30am, meet at the Museum for check in. Participants will be required to sign a liability
waiver. Car caravan will be organized and for those that want to carpool, we’ll figure it out there.
Sign up at www.maturango.org (check website) or come to the Maturango Museum Store.
Be sure you have enough gas (approximately 200 miles round trip), car and tires in good running order.
Usual dress code for field trips applies: hat, sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes, layered clothing,
water, camera. It is better to have these items and not need them, than need them and not have them.
We will be walking on uneven ground to get to outdoor exhibits and gardens. Parking area also may
have uneven ground.
Families are encouraged. No pets. Bring a picnic lunch to eat while we are at Manzanar. Water, snacks,
lunch, etc. No alcohol.

Children's Hour "Garden Adventures"
2026-05-08 10:30 - 11:30
We are looking forward to welcoming families to our traditional end of the school year outdoor event at the museum in the Gladys Merrick Garden; join the fun with books, a scavenger hunt game with a checklist of nature items and interesting things to find in the garden, and a craft.
The land around us, both desert and mountains, has so many stories to tell! Sightings of a variety of wild critters, such as hummingbirds, ravens and migrating hawks, lizards and tortoises, small ground squirrels and rabbits or hares, bumblebees plus other insects or spiders are all possible finds. The children will become ‘Nature Detectives’ as they search for signs or clues of them. Hmmm, those holes spotted in the ground just might be tunnels to small animals’ shelters, such as mice, or even snakes. The ants may live in the tiny dirt mounds. Feathers or nests or bits of broken eggshells are signs of baby birds. What other signs and clues can be found on the garden? Perhaps, chewed leaves, tracks or scat may be scattered around. Whether exploring nature in the desert, mountains, forests, lakes and streams, children’s curiosity is bound to lead to questions and for answers to be sought. The children can look for the sun dial, the solar system, or labyrinth while in the garden; and, also, play the wonderful new musical outdoor instruments in the shapes of flowers and ladybugs. Not only is learning happening, but the experience is a lot of fun!
Children’s Hour, begun by a group of volunteer docents in 2009, continues to encourage both learning and appreciation of books, and the Mojave Desert/nearby mountains. Each program theme is explored through storybooks, songs, and action activities, crafts and natural history exhibits from the docents’ collection. Curiosity and questions from children are warmly received!
We hope to see you for this free and educational event! The May Children’s Hour will be the last one for the season but will begin again monthly in the Fall. For information about Children’s Hour Fall 2026 Schedule, please check maturango.org in late August/early September 2026 or by calling 760-375-6900.

"The SACRED WILD" Art Exhibit
2026-05-09 - 2026-06-30
Featuring Artists: Julie Cornett and Janneil Eggleston
The Sacred Wild brings together two distinct yet connected artistic practices that explore the intersection of nature, reverence, and pattern.
Through linocut printmaking, Julie Cornett reimagines desert landscapes, plants, and native birds and reptiles as regal, almost mythic presences. Desert flora shimmer with quiet vitality, while crowned and haloed creatures are elevated beyond the ordinary, inviting viewers to consider the Mojave not as barren or harsh, but as a place of quiet majesty and spiritual presence.
In dialogue, Janneil Eggleston’s intricate string-based geometric works translate sacred geometry into luminous, intricately strung compositions. Carefully constructed with balance and precision, these radiant patterns evoke harmony, interconnectedness, and the underlying structures that shape both the natural and unseen worlds.
Together, these works frame the desert as both wild and sacred—a space where reverence emerges from the natural world itself.

Museum Store Sale for Mother’s Day
2026-05-09 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-10 12:00 - 16:00
Museum Store Sale for Mother’s Day weekend: 25% discount, Fri May 8 – Sun May 9
This does not include books, blankets and custom pens

Second Saturday! Free Admission!
2026-05-09 10:00 - 17:00
11-2 Birdy Bingo! with the Docents

"The SACRED WILD" Art Exhibit Opening Reception
2026-05-09 15:00 - 17:00

Art Gallery “The Sacred Wild”
2026-05-29 - 2026-06-30
The Sacred Wild brings together two distinct yet connected artistic practices that explore the intersection of nature, reverence, and pattern. Through linocut printmaking, Julie Cornett reimagines desert landscapes, plants, and native birds and reptiles as regal, almost mythic presences. Desert flora shimmer with quiet vitality, while crowned and haloed creatures are elevated beyond the ordinary, inviting viewers to consider the Mojave not as barren or harsh, but as a place of quiet majesty and spiritual presence. In dialogue, Janneil Eggleston’s intricate string-based geometric works translate sacred geometry into luminous, intricately strung compositions. Carefully constructed with balance and precision, these radiant patterns evoke harmony, interconnectedness, and the underlying structures that shape both the natural and unseen worlds. Together, these works frame the desert as both wild and sacred—a space where reverence emerges from the natural world itself.

Maturango Sunday Speakers presents Curtis Alcantar, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for Tejon Indian Tribe
2026-05-31 14:00 - 16:00
Maturango Sunday Speakers presents Curtis Alcantar,
Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for Tejon Indian Tribe
Sunday May 31, 2pm

The Tejon Indian Tribe is a federally recognized tribe of Kitanemuk, Yokuts, Paiute and Chumash Indigenous people of California. Their ancestral homeland is the southern San Joaquin Valley, San Emigdio Mountains, and Tehachapi Mountains. Tribal headquarters are located in Bakersfield California. Curtis (Kitanemuk) will discuss the past history, present, and future directions of the Tejon Tribe.
Curtis holds a B.A in Anthropology from Cal State Bakersfield and is currently enrolled in the Applied Anthropology graduate program at Cal Poly Humboldt. He serves as the Tejon Tribal Historic Preservation Officer and manages cultural resources for the Tribe. His work focuses on Section 106 consultations, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act consultations, protecting archeological sites, GIS mapping, excavations, landscape preservation, habitat restoration, pictographs/petroglyphs, and lithic identification.
Admission is free.

Garden Clean-up Party
2026-06-05 09:00 - 11:00
Come spend a morning outdoors with friends and neighbors as we tidy up our beautiful museum grounds. Whether you have a green thumb or just want to help out, we’d love to have you! Refreshments will be served to thank you for your hard work!

Second Saturday! Free Admission!
2026-06-13 10:00 - 17:00
11-2 Create with the Docents
Greg Watson and BEES!

Father’s Day weekend Sale
2026-06-19 - 2026-06-21
Swing by the Museum Store over Father’s Day weekend to take 25% off all gifts and cards! It’s the perfect opportunity to find a meaningful gift he’ll love.
Friday, June 19 – Sunday, June 21

Quarter Moon Star Party at Maturango!
2026-06-20 20:00 - 22:00
Saturday, June 20, 2026 – 8:00 PM
Quarter Moon Star Party at Maturango
* IMPORTANT: Please check here for POSSIBLE WEATHER CANCELLATIONS at https://www.chinalakeastro.org/StarParty/. *
Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury are visible but will be setting early. If skies are steady, we can see the phase of Venus that is only half-illuminated.
The Quarter Moon is 6 days old and 42% illuminated, with lots of details visible in our telescopes.
For a detailed map of what’s visible on the Moon this night, go to Derekscope Moon Phase Maps and click on the Day 6 Moon.
Open to the public and suitable for all ages!

Art Gallery Exhibit: “Reflections” by Jim Hunolt & Barry Howard
2026-07-05 12:00 - 2026-08-30 17:00
Join us at the Maturango Museum for “Reflections,” a art gallery exhibition highlighting the beautiful contrast between sculpture by Jim Hunolt and paintings by Barry Howard.
Jim Hunolt’s Sculptures in Granite, Marble, Bronze, Wood, Steel
My sculptures are in traditional materials and are carved, cast, or welded.
My basic intention is to create forms and content that express my understandings of our Human Condition. Most of my efforts are generated in human forms, semi-abstracted. Others are considerations of abstract concepts essential to our existence. I believe that the purpose of Art is the exploration of the Human Spirit.
Having been a professional sculptor since 1965, I have had the opportunity to work in a number of mediums, and with a master sculptor, Gordon Newell for 35 years until his passing in 1998. The Coast gallery in Big Sur has represented my work for 55 straight years, 1969-2024. They closed their Gallery in 2024.

Barry Howard’s Paintings in Acrylic
Barry Allen Howard is a self-taught painter who works primarily in oils. He draws inspiration from nature and moves back and forth between realism and abstraction, often blending the two together. He has lived and painted all over the country from the rugged Big Sur Coast to the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico as well as the tropical beaches of Maui. Currently his home is in a tiny ghost town near Death Valley.

2026 Open Studio Tour Application
2026-07-17 10:00 - 2026-08-23 17:00
Maturango Museum “Call to Artists” for the Open Studio Tour 2026
The Maturango Museum is now accepting applications (due by August 23) from local artists
for the Maturango Museum’s Open Studio Tour 2026. Artists open their studios for the 2-day
event so guests can visit and purchase artwork. The tour will be Saturday and Sunday, October
24,25, 10 am – 4 pm each day. Each artist will also have their artwork displayed in the 2-month
Open Studio Tour Exhibit (Sep 12 – Nov 2) at the Museum and be a part of the Artists’
Reception on Sunday September 13, 2 – 4pm.
For information and applications please go to the museum (open 10 – 5 Monday – Saturday,
noon – 4pm Sunday) or send an e-mail to Andrea gallery@maturango.org requesting Open
Studio Tour information.
We have changed the application fee and commission procedures from last year(s). Please
be sure to read the new procedures for 2026. The application fee is $35 for museum members
and $40 for non-members; after your first $100 of sales in your studio, on an “honor system” the
commission to the Museum is 15%. The commission for art in the Museum gallery exhibit
remains at 40%.

Annual Auction and Dinner
2026-09-26 16:30 - 22:00 | Kerr McGee Center, 100 W California Ave,, Ridgecrest, CA, 93555, United States

Open Studio Tour 2026
2026-10-24 10:00 - 2026-10-25 04:00
Open Studio Tour
October 24 & 25
Maps available at time of event.
